APP Group Takes Step Toward Conservation in Sumatra's Bukit Tigapuluh
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NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- APP Group and a consortium of Proforest, WWF-Indonesia, and KKI WARSI have taken a significant step toward landscape-scale conservation in Sumatra’s critical Bukit Tigapuluh landscape through the PROTECT30 initiative. Launched in February 2026, PROTECT30 aims to conserve forests, protect biodiversity, and strengthen community resilience in the region.
As one of the program's first on-the-ground steps, the consortium has planted a 17-hectare (42-acre) forage area with local fruit trees to support Sumatran elephants. This initiative is part of a broader effort to increase food availability and support habitat connectivity for the critically endangered elephant population, which is home to roughly 10% of the Sumatran elephant population.
Spanning parts of Jambi and Riau provinces, Bukit Tigapuluh is one of the island's last significant natural forest landscapes and a critical habitat for globally important biodiversity. The newly established forage area, planted with species such as jackfruit and cempedak, is designed to provide a vital food source for the elephants and enhance the overall health of the ecosystem.
Beyond its ecological significance, Bukit Tigapuluh supports communities whose cultural identity and livelihoods are closely tied to the forest. The PROTECT30 initiative was established as a long-term collaborative platform that integrates habitat conservation, landscape connectivity, and community livelihoods. By fostering partnerships among governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector, the program aims to ensure that interventions are both ecologically and socially relevant, contributing to the sustainable management of landscapes.
Elim Sritaba, Chief Sustainability Officer of APP Group, emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving lasting success.
PROTECT30 is part of APP Group's broader commitment to responsible forestry practices and long-term environmental and social outcomes. Launched in September 2025, Regenesis is APP's platform for building a more sustainable future for the pulp and paper industry, one that acts as a catalyst for the restoration and resilience of forests and the communities connected to them. Backed by $30 million annually, the platform focuses first on conserving and restoring one million hectares of critical ecosystems.
Through PROTECT30, APP Group and its partners are laying the groundwork for holistic landscape management in the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape. Together with BKSDA (Natural Resources Conservation Agency), the Jambi Provincial Forestry Service (DISHUT), the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park Office (BTNBT), and other relevant agencies, the PROTECT30 consortium is establishing governance structures and shared methodologies to support the long-term health of the landscape and the wellbeing of the communities that depend on it.
The program will also contribute to remediation activities aligned with the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Remedy Framework, reflecting APP's broader commitment to responsible forestry practices and long-term environmental and social outcomes.